Ajax's Veltman softens Tottenham talk

Ajax defender Joel Veltman has played down talk of a summer move to Tottenham, with the Netherlands international conceding he knows nothing of reported interest from the north Londoners.

"I have spoken with my agent, but he is unaware of any interest from Tottenham," Veltman told VI, courtesy of ESPN FC. "Vincent Janssen was joking that we will become teammates, but there is nothing to it as of yet.

"I have one year left on my current contract, so normally I will either renew or be sold. That is only logical. There will be clarity after my holiday. But a transfer is a bigger option than before," Veltman, 25, added.

After a stellar campaign with Ajax where centre-half Veltman paired 30 appearances in the Eredivisie with 10 in the Amsterdam giant's Europa League final's run, the 16-time-capped Oranje international has become the subject of transfer speculation.

Naturally, that has the player eyeing greener pastures.

"Ajax's offer to renew is a nice gesture, they want me to stay. But this could be the moment for me to look at other options. But the right club will have to come along. There is nothing concrete for now, but I am not in a rush."

Tottenham is no stranger to defenders with Ajax backgrounds, as first-choice centre-back pairing Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld both progressed from the club's famed academy.